14.

─── ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ───

I sat in the drive-thru of the donut shop, fingers tapping anxiously against the steering wheel as I balanced my phone between my ear and shoulder. The line was moving slow as hell, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.

"Ms. Allen," the woman on the other end of the line said, her tone clipped, professional, but laced with impatience. "As we've discussed before, we can only admit your mother if she voluntarily agrees to treatment. Given her history of leaving against medical advice, we need her full cooperation this time."

I clenched my jaw, staring out the windshield as the car ahead of me inched forward. "She ain't in no position to be making decisions," I muttered. "Y'all know damn well if she had the capacity to choose what's best for her, she wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."

There was a pause on the other end.

"I understand your frustration, Ms. Allen, but our hands are tied. We can conduct another wellness check and see if there's an immediate risk, but without her consent, there's not much more we can do."

I exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel. "Yeah, do that," I said, voice tight. "And let me know what the hell y'all find."

Hanging up, I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat and rubbed a hand down my face. Zuri's friend's mom had already agreed to keep her for the week, so I had time to handle this. But it felt like I was running in circles, trying to force my mother to want help she didn't even think she needed.

The car ahead of me pulled up, and I rolled forward, trying to shake the stress off. I just needed to get through today without losing my shit.

I grabbed my food from the drive-thru window, tossing the bag onto the passenger seat before pulling off. The smell of warm glazed donuts and bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches filled the car, but my appetite was dull under the weight of everything on my mind. Still, I ate while I drove, chewing absentmindedly as my thoughts bounced from one problem to the next.

By the time I pulled up to the Hill estate, the food was gone, but the heaviness in my chest wasn't. Instead of getting out, I stayed in the car, hands gripping the wheel as I let my head fall back against the seat.

First, Yanna. I hadn't missed the way she was all up in that girl's face at the party yesterday. I'd been standing back, posted up like always, watching the scene unfold like I wasn't supposed to give a fuck. But that shit bothered me more than I wanted to admit. The way she smiled at Kamryn, all easy and flirty, had me clenching my jaw so hard it damn near hurt. And the fact that she knew I was watching? That she wanted me to see? Yeah, that shit was intentional. I knew how she moved.

Then there was Myah. Still laid up in my spot like it was hers, like we were still something. It wasn't like I hadn't thought about entertaining it again—she was familiar, and I knew exactly what I'd be getting with her. But every time she touched me now, it felt like a ghost of something I used to want, not something I still did. And the fact that I curved her yesterday? Yeah. That was new.

And on top of all that, I still had to figure out my next move for Zuri. I couldn't keep doing this long-distance, calling in favors, hoping she was straight while I handled shit from miles away. She needed stability, a real home with me. That meant I had to get serious about looking at schools out here, finding a place that fit. I wasn't about to bring her into my world if I didn't have it all mapped out first.

I sighed, running a hand down my face before finally pushing open the car door. I had too much shit on my plate, and standing still wasn't gonna fix any of it. Time to get moving.

I walked through the estate, heading toward Yanna's room, already expecting to find her and Rina sprawled out, running their mouths and being messy like usual. But when I stepped inside, the energy was different. It was just Yanna, sitting at her vanity, carefully applying gloss to her lips while her phone played some low R&B in the background.

I took a few steps closer, my presence heavy in the room. She was in the middle of fixing an earring when I slid my hands around her waist from behind, my fingers brushing the exposed skin between her top and her jeans. She smelled sweet, like vanilla and something expensive, and the heat of her body against mine had me sinking in without thinking.

"Hey," she said smoothly, giving me a small smile in the mirror before turning her head slightly to press a soft kiss to my lips. It was easy, familiar—the kind of thing that should only happen between people who knew where they stood with each other.

I pulled back just enough to murmur, "Where you goin' lookin' like that?" My voice was low, still lazy from the kiss, but there was something sharper underneath.

Yanna grabbed her phone off the vanity, tapping at the screen like my question wasn't even loaded. "On a date."

My whole mood shifted. My grip on her waist loosened, my chest tightening in a way I didn't like. I stepped back slightly, my eyes narrowing as she turned around to face me fully.

I searched her face, waiting for her to say she was joking, waiting for her to crack that little smirk and tell me she just wanted to get a reaction out of me. But she didn't. She just tilted her head, watching me with those sharp-ass eyes like she was daring me to say something.

I let my tongue press against my cheek, nodding once as I took another step back. "What?" she asked, her voice even, but I could hear the challenge in it.

"Nothing," I said, my voice clipped. But I didn't move.

Yanna arched a brow, lips twitching like she was amused. "Me and you not together," she said simply, shrugging like it was nothing. Like she wasn't in my bed just last night, whispering my name in the dark.

I let out a short breath, shaking my head slightly as I took another step back. I wasn't about to argue with her. I wasn't about to beg for clarity that I shouldn't even need.

"Apologies, Ms. Hill," I said coolly, my voice laced with something sharp before I turned on my heel and stepped into the hall.

Yeah, we weren't "together." But sneaking around, kissing, touching, whispering shit in the dark—that meant something. That should've counted for something. And if it didn't? If she thought she could play this game with me?

She had me all the way fucked up.

I stood in my position, jaw tight, arms crossed over my chest as I stared at the closed door in front of me. The fuck was I thinking? I should've known better. Should've known I wasn't anything more than a little plaything to her.

Yanna liked the chase. She liked the thrill, the back and forth, the tension thick enough to cut through. She liked knowing she could have me. And now that she did? She was onto the next, like it ain't mean a damn thing.

I inhaled deeply through my nose, rolling my shoulders back to shake off the way my muscles tensed up. But it didn't work—my jaw ached from how hard I was clenching it, and my fingers twitched with the urge to break something, hit something, fuck something up.

Instead, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, unlocking it with quick fingers and scrolling until I found Myah's name. Myah. The one who was always there, always waiting. A safety net. A distraction.

I typed fast.

Wait up for me, baby.

And before I could even think twice about it, I hit send.

The second the message went through, I let out a heavy breath, my head tipping back against the wall. I wasn't stupid—I knew exactly what I was doing. Bari always told me I get caught up too easy, that I lead with my feelings when I should be thinking with my head.

Maybe he was right. But right now, I didn't care. I needed the distraction. I needed something to pull me out of whatever the fuck I was feeling. Because feelings? They didn't do shit for me except make me look like a fool. And I'd be damned if I let Yanna play me like one.

I didn't spare Yanna a glance when she stepped out of her room, didn't acknowledge her presence, didn't react to the way she carried herself with that usual confidence, like she wasn't just in there telling me she was about to go be wined and dined by somebody else. I kept my expression blank, my steps even as we made our way downstairs.

But before we could step outside, Mr. Hill's voice cut through the air.

"Ren, my office."

I stopped in my tracks, glancing over my shoulder as he turned his gaze to Yanna next. "You stay put."

She pouted, her arms crossing over her chest, but she didn't argue.

I already knew this was some bullshit.

I exhaled sharply through my nose, squared my shoulders, and made my way to his office, only to see Wyatt stepping out just as I reached the door. He smirked at me, smug as ever, and all I could do was clench my jaw and keep my composure.

Of course it was about him.

I stepped inside, the door closing behind me with a soft click, and turned to face Mr. Hill, standing behind his massive desk, hands clasped together.

"Have a seat."

I didn't.

He sighed, shaking his head slightly, then got straight to the point. "Wyatt is concerned that you and Yanna are getting too close."

I didn't react, just kept my face neutral, unreadable.

"His father is a very important business partner of mine, and I would hate to have to fire a good employee over a misunderstanding."

There it was. The warning.

I nodded once, my voice smooth, even. "I understand, sir. I apologize if Wyatt misread the situation. It won't be a problem."

His eyes lingered on me for a moment, like he was waiting for something else, but I wasn't about to give him a single thing more.

"You're excused."

I dipped my head slightly in acknowledgment before stepping out, closing the door behind me, and rolling my shoulders back to shake off the irritation settling deep in my chest.

I spotted Yanna where I left her, still standing there, still looking like she didn't have a single care in the world. Oblivious.

And now, I had to take her to this fucking date.

Perfect.

I pulled open the door for her, because no matter what, I was still a gentlewoman. That's just how I was raised.

But that's where it stopped.

I didn't reach out to close it behind her like I usually would. I didn't check to make sure she was comfortable. Didn't even glance her way. Just opened it and then walked around the front of the car, slipping into the driver's seat with my jaw tight and my hands gripping the wheel a little harder than necessary.

I could feel her eyes on me, watching me, waiting for me to say something.

I didn't.

Normally, I'd crack a joke. Normally, I'd tease her about how long it took her to get dressed, or how I bet her date was about to be real disappointed when she started getting on her little spoiled brat antics. Normally, I'd fill the space between us with something—words, laughter, even just some damn acknowledgment.

But not today.

Today, I let the silence sit heavy between us, let it stretch long enough for her to start shifting in her seat, like she was finally starting to feel that I wasn't in the mood to entertain her this time.

Finally, she exhaled and spoke. "Ren... I'm sorry for saying that."

I didn't even look at her. Just kept my eyes on the road and said, "Cool."

That was it. No argument. No back and forth. No giving her the satisfaction of thinking she could say whatever she wanted and I'd still be there all eager to play along.

She had already made it clear where she stood. She was single. She was free. She could do whatever the hell she wanted.

And me?

I could too.

So I kept driving in silence, the weight of unspoken words settling in the car like a storm cloud ready to break. But I wasn't the one who was gonna break first. Not this time.

When we pulled up to the restaurant, Yanna didn't even wait for me to open the door—not that I would have. She let herself out, her little attitude still lingering from the car ride, and I wasn't about to beg for her attention. She made her choice, right? So I let her be and just walked a few steps behind her, keeping my posture relaxed but my senses sharp, still in security mode.

As we stepped inside, a girl with the fattest ass I'd seen in a minute walked past me, all hips and curves, smelling like vanilla and something sweet. I let my eyes trail her for half a second—natural reaction, I wasn't dead. But then I caught myself and shook it off. I had a job to do, not a distraction to chase.

I posted up nearby, close enough to see Yanna but far enough that I wasn't in her space. I could hear enough of the conversation to tell it was already going left. Awkward as hell.

Kamryn wasn't even trying to make a real connection. She was just playing the field, barely paying attention to what Yanna was saying. Every time the waitress came over, Kam turned on the charm, throwing little flirty comments at her that had the girl giggling but had Yanna looking real unamused.

And that wasn't even the worst part.

Every time a pretty girl walked by, Kamryn had something to say. "Oh, I love your dress."

"Damn, you smell good."

"Okay, legs! I see you!"

And every time, I watched Yanna's expression change just a little. At first, she tried to act like it wasn't bothering her, laughing it off, sipping her drink like she didn't care. But I knew her. I could see it in the way she shifted in her seat, in the way she stopped making eye contact, in the way her fingers started fidgeting with the edge of her napkin.

She wasn't used to this.

Yanna was the girl people flirted with, not the one sitting across from someone who was flirting with everybody else. She liked attention, needed it even, and right now? She wasn't getting it.

And me?

I was eating that shit up.

That's what she wanted, right? To keep her options open? Cool. But maybe she was starting to realize that not all her options were as solid as she thought.

It didn't take much longer before she was up and making her way toward me, her face set in that little pout she did when things weren't going her way. I had already clocked that this date was a bust, but seeing her finally give in and come to me? Yeah, that felt real nice.

She stopped in front of me, arms crossed, and said, "Can you take me home?"

I fought back the smirk creeping up on my lips. Oh, now you need me? I didn't say nothing smart, though. Just gave her a single nod, pushed off the wall I was leaning against, and started walking toward the truck.

The ride back was quiet, but different from before. Less attitude, more... thoughtfulness. I could feel her sneaking glances at me, probably waiting for me to crack, to start conversation like I always did. But I wasn't giving her that this time. She made it real clear earlier that we weren't anything, right? So why should I act like we were?

When we pulled up to the estate, I parked and got out, moving right back into position by the entrance like nothing happened. Business as usual.

She stood by the truck for a second, hesitating, before finally coming over to me. "Come in," she said, softer this time, like she was trying to smooth things over.

I didn't budge. Didn't even look at her for more than a second. I just kept my stance solid and shook my head.

"I'm fine, Ms. Hill."

I could see the way her jaw tightened, her hands flexing at her sides like she wanted to say something, wanted to argue, wanted me to just come inside like I always did. But I wasn't playing into that. Not tonight.

Yeah, this was eating her ass up. And I was loving every second of it.

I followed behind Yanna as she walked back inside, trailing her steps just like I always did. She was smiling a little, thinking I was gonna cave, thinking I'd follow her inside like I always did. Like she had me wrapped around her damn finger.

But the second she reached her door and turned back to look at me, I stopped. Posted up right outside like I was supposed to. My expression stayed blank, unreadable. I wasn't giving her nothing extra tonight.

Her smile dropped. I could see the frustration flash across her face, but she didn't say anything. She just huffed, rolled her eyes, and disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her.

I stayed there, standing guard until my shift was officially over. When I was dismissed, I headed home, feeling drained in a way that had nothing to do with work. My mind was heavy. Between Yanna, Myah, Zuri, and all this extra bullshit with Mr. Hill? I needed a damn break.

But the second I walked into my place, there she was.

Myah. Sitting on my bed, waiting like she had a reason to be there.

She was wearing one of my old hoodies, the sleeves bunched up around her hands like she thought that shit was cute, like it was supposed to do something to me. She looked up when I walked in, eyes soft, voice sweet. "Hey, baby."

Before I could even say anything, she was on me. Arms around my neck, lips pressed against mine like she was tryna remind me of something. I let her, at first. My hands even found their way to her waist, like muscle memory.

But then—I pulled back.

Not because of Yanna. This wasn't about her. This was about me.

I just wasn't feeling it. Wasn't feeling Myah, wasn't feeling the way this whole situation felt like something I should've been over a long time ago.

I pushed her off me gently, but firm enough that she got the message.

She stepped back, confused. Then her confusion turned to annoyance. "What the fuck, Ren?"

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. I didn't even have the energy for this.

"Look, Myah..." I started, but she wasn't tryna hear it.

Her arms crossed, her stance shifted, and her voice turned sharp. "Don't 'look, Myah' me. You been acting different as fuck lately. What's really up?"

I exhaled through my nose, already regretting letting her stay here this long.

"You need to start looking for your own place," I said, my tone flat, final.

She stared at me, like she was trying to figure out if I was serious. Then her expression hardened.

"Oh, it's like that?" she scoffed. "Let me guess—you got somebody else now?"

I didn't say anything. Didn't confirm or deny. I just looked at her, waiting for her to realize this was long overdue.

But she wasn't tryna hear it.

"Wow. You real funny, Ren," she said, shaking her head before grabbing her phone and storming out the room, pissed as hell.

I didn't stop her. Didn't call after her. Didn't do anything.

I just sat down on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor, my thoughts a complete mess.

Maybe Bari was right. I really do get caught up too easy.